Sheet-metal flume



(No Mddel.)

O. S. HAMLIN. sEEET METAL ELUME.

Patented July 13, 1897.

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cnAnLEs s. HAMLIN, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SHEET=M ETAL FLU IVl E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,180, dated July 13,1897.

Application filed October 6, 1896. Serial No. 608,010 (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. HAMLIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angelcs, in the county of Los Angeles, State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful In! proveinents inSheet-MetalFlumes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements insheet-metal flnmes intended more especially for carryingirrigating-water, but which may be used in other ways, if desired; andmy invention consists in certain features of novelty hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Figure I represents a detail top view of my improved flume, showing twosections coupled to each other. Fig. II is a transverse view taken online II 11, Fig. I. Fig. III repre sents an edge View of the outsidecouplingring. Fig. IV is a top, view of the outside coupling-ring. Fig.V is a detail view showing inner expansion-ring and a portion of theoverlapping section of flume. Fig. VI is a top view of the innerexpansion-ring. Fig. VII is a detail view showing the overlapping endsof the flume with the outer coupling-ring and the inner expansion-ring.Fig.'VIII is a longitudinal section taken on line VIII VIII, Fig. I.Fig. IX is a detail view showing connecting-loop which connects the topedge of the flume with the binding-wire. Fig. X is a section taken fromline X X, Fig. IX. Fig. XI is a top view of wedge-shaped key forexpanding the expansion-ring and looking it in connection with the outercoupling-ring.

Referring to the drawings, 1 2 represent two sections of my improvedflume, which is made in the form of a segment of a circle with alongitudinal opening 3 on the upper side of the flume. At intervals theflume is bound with anumber of laps of wire, as shown at 4:, said wireserving to brace the flume from inner pressure, owing to its tensilestrength, and by means of its being formed into a series of laps, whichare bound together, also braces the flume from outer pressure, the wireas formed bearing a large degree of thrust strength.

5 represents tie wires or loops, which first pass over the binding-Wirel, then extend through orifices in the edge of the flume, as shown at 6,the ends of the tie-wire then being folded back over the edge of theflume and over the tie-wires and then formed into a knot 7, thuseffectually holding the tie-wires in their proper position at the edgeof the flume.

8 represents a series of staples, which pass over the tie-wires and areconnected to the flume at intervals around its surface, thus holding thetie-wires firmly together and in connection with the flume.

The section 2 of the flume is adapted to telescope a short distance intoone end of the section 1 preparatoryto forming the coupling. Owing tothe flume being open on its upper side it is an easy matter to telescopeone section into the other for a short distance without altering thesize of the flume, which would be necessary were the flume made in pipeshape, or, in other words, formed in a complete circle.

At the point where the ends of the sections of the flume are telescopedfor a short distance I place an outer coupling-ring 9 around the flume,said coupling-ring being formed in the same shape as the flume proper,but with the difference that the cord 10 of the segment is an integralpart of the ring, the cord being at the top of the flume. In the cord 10of the ring I'form slots 11.

12 represents an inner expansion ring adapted to fit within the flume atthe point where the two sections telescope and resting on the inside ofthe flume in line with the coupling-ring on the outer side of the flume.

The eXpansion-rin g 12 is open on its upper side and is provided withbent lugs 13, which extend up through the slots 11 in the outercoupling-ring. For ordinary construction, as there is no pressure tospeak of in the flume, I require no gasket between the telescope ends ofthe fiu1ne,but have shown the gasket let, which may be inserted betweenthe telescoped sections of the flume, if found to be desired.

At the point of laying the flume, where it is desired to couple twosections of the flume, the ends are slightly telescoped, the outer ringbeing in position and the inner ring in position inside the flume withthe lug 13 extending through the slots 11. I then firmly lock the twosections together by driving in a wedge-shaped key 15 between the lugs13, forcing them outward in the slots 11 and pressing the expansion-ringthroughout its length against the inner section of the flume, thusforcing the inner section against the outer section, which is limited inits movement by the outer coupling-ring 9. I thus form a simple andefficient coupling that can be put in place at the point of laying theflume without in any manner having to treat or flange the end of theflume proper at the point where it is manufactured.

The key 15 is provided with a series of apertures 16, into which a pinor screw 17 may be inserted after the key has been forced into itsdesired position, said pin firmly holding the key against withdrawal asthe inner end of the pin comes in contact with the edge of thecoupling-ring.

The flume when in its complete state may be treated to agalvanizing-bath or a bath of asphaltum or of other material which mayadd strength or durability to the flume. There it is treated to thegalvanizing-bath, the binding-wires are firmly cemented together, whichforms a bond between the wires themselves and between the wires and theflume proper, thus adding to the thrust resistance of the flume andserving to assist in holding said wires in their proper position.

In laying the flume it is preferably laid with the overlapping portionof the telescope end facing downgrade, as in this position there isstill less liability of its leaking in casefor any reason the couplingmight become loosened.

Iclaim as my invention- 1. As a new article of manufacture a sheetmetalflume, having its body formed in the segment of a circle and bound atsuitable intervals with wire formed in groups, and cemented togethersubstantially as set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture a sheet metal flume, having its bodyformed in the segment of a circle and bound with wire formed in groupsat intervals throughout its length, the wires after being grouped beingcemented together to form a rigid brace at the top of the flume andmeans for securing said wire to the flume, substantially as set forth.

3. In a sheet-metal flume the combination of the body of the flume,binding-wire wound around said flume and formed in groups, a tie-wireconnecting the edge of the flume with the binding-wire and staples forconnecting the body of the flume with the binding-wire, substantially asset forth.

4. In a sheet-metal flume the combination of the body of the flume, openon its upper side, one section of the flume being adapted to telescope ashort distance into the adjoining section, an outer coupling-ring and aninner expansion-ring for forming a coupling at the point where the twosections telescope, substantially as set forth.

5. In a sheet-metal flume the combination of two sections of flume, oneadapted to telescope a short distance within the other, an outercoupling-ring adapted to surround the flume, an inner expansion-ringadapted to be placed within the flume and means for expanding theexpansion-ring and forcing the sections of the flume against the outercoupling-ring, substantially as set forth.

6. In a sheet-metal flume the combination of the flume proper adapted totelescope a short distance, an outer coupling-ring having the mainportion formed in the form of a circle and having its upper sidestraight, slots in said straight portion, an expansion-ring adapted tofit within the flume and lugs on the expansion-ring adapted to extendthrough the slots in the coupling-ring, substantially as set forth. 7

7. In a sheet-metal flume the combination of the flume proper, an outercoupling-ring having slots within, an inner expansion-ring having lugswhich extend through said slots, and a wedge-shaped key adapted toengage said lugs and expand the expansion-ring, substantially as setforth.

8. In a sheet-metal flume the combination of the flume proper an outercoupling-ring having slots, an inner expansion-ring having lugs adaptedto extend through said slots and a wedge-shaped key having orifices anda pin which may be inserted in said orifices forpreventing thewithdrawal of the key, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES S. HAMLIN.

\Vitnesses:

J. E. KNIGHT, M. K. YOUNG.

